We managed to squeeze in some birding after work and perhaps the last one of the year. Ducks were again in reduced numbers despite the water level rising. Teal reached 231, 1 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwall and 3 drake Pochard. The Ruff and Reeves from earlier in the day were again on the tank with roosting Lapwing (170), 2 Golden Plover, 103 Black-headed and 78 Common Gulls were also present at dusk. 14 Raven were heading off to their roost over the hills and an impressive flock of 450 Fieldfare containing 100 Redwing streamed in from the north, flew low over No.6 tank and out to Lordship Marsh. Presumably a Merlin over Moorditch Lane was attracted by the thrush movements.

Observers: Sparky, WSM (and image).

A huge murmaration of Starlings starting at 4.30 at the Growhow works end of No.4 tank

Observer: Shaun Hickey.

A Chiffchaff was heard sub-singing on Runcorn Hill at dawn. (WSM).

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Paul’s early morning walk saw the sunrise over Fox Hill and from the Holpool Gutter to Marsh Farm he saw good numbers of Linnet and Goldfinch in the area. Grey Wagtail, Stonechat and juvenile Marsh Harrier was also along the Holpool Gutter. Also 4 Little Egret were on the score.

Observer (and image 2): Paul Ralston.

A thorough vismig count from the farm included 2 (south) Redwing, 25 Chaffinch not going anywhere really over No.4 tank. Wood Pigeon was the most

Other notable species: 6 Raven, 6 (east) Stock Dove and 2 Goldcrest on No4. The Ring-necked Parakeet (came in very high from the east above the Wood Pigeons, with Bulbuls and Spiderhunters…must be wild?).

Frodsham Score had 1 Little Egret, 12 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing and 30 Reed Bunting some from river perched in bushes with none going overhead. A Grey Wagtail was on the Manchester Ship Canal banks, but of considerable interest was a calling Rock Pipit and quite a rare birds in recent years.

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Observer (and images 1,3 & 4): Tony Broome.

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An additional vismig from Marsh Farm resulted in 400 Jackdaw heading south, 2 Greenfinch and a Redpoll over the Farm.

Observer: Frank Duff.

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A short walk this morning from Ince berth along the Manchester Ship Canal around No.4 tank and back along the Holpool Gutter. A Kingfisher was on the berth wall with several alba wagtails plus a large flock of Goldfinch on the path then with a mixed flock of tits.

The two Great White Egret were a long way out on Frodsham Score but 4 Little Egret were much closer where a large flock of mixed gulls mostly Black-headed and Common with smaller numbers of Great and Lesser Black-backed all roosting up on the short marshy grass.

Many Lapwing were wheeling in the air and presumably disturbed by an unseen predator? Other raptors included Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, there were many Raven also seen.

A pair of Stonechat on four by the gutter and a pair of Common Snipe also down by the gutter.

Observer: Paul Ralston.

Seen this morning were 5 Stonechat on No.1 tank and another at the Weaver Bend.

Paul Crawley saw the parakeet in the morning around No.3 tank and it flew towards No 5 tank where FD picked it up. I saw it in trees on No.6 tank before the track drops down to No.3 tank before it flew down to the bushes there.

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Observer: Alyn Chambers (and image 3).

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A male Marsh Harrier was over No.6 tank.

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Observer: Arthur Harrison

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The Treecreeper was seen again and an escapee Ring-necked Parakeet is presumably the same bird seen a few weeks ago but this time it was heard calling, “pieces of eight, pieces of eight”.

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Observer: Frank Duff.

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During dusk a walk along the track of No.5 tank with a keen eye cocked to the opportunity of seeing Polly the Parakeet was rewarded with yet another sheep carcass in the field being quickly despatched by 27 Raven., An additional 15 were out and about elsewhere on the marsh. A flock of 36 Mallard flew over No.6 tank (see image above) and then flew back out to the Weaver Estuary watched over by the Peregrine on the blue-topped chimney.

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Frank took the Greta Garbo option and ” I want to be alone” birded the periphery of the marsh which resulted in him seeing 2 Coal Tit a localise rare bird but expected to be seen during the autumn migration. A flock of 10 Siskin joined up with the Goldfinch hordes. Several Jays and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were also noted. Later he had a flock of 150 Golden Plover from Marsh Farm and a Stonechat along the fence line on No.1 tank.

Observer: Frank Duff.

The main action was on the rising tide at Frodsham Score. A staggering 7000 Canada Geese were impressive by anyone’s standards and hidden amongst their herd was a couple of Barnacle Goose. 5 Whooper Swan were distantly on the edge of the salt marsh at Ince and apart from feeding didn’t really come close. Other waterfowl featured 12 Shoveler and 800 Wigeon riding the tide in and out.

10 Little and 2 Great White Egret were viewable throughout the watching period and one of the little’s was colour ringed (details to follow). We had handy size comparisons with the egrets and (10) Grey Heron which were watching the tidal gutters filling, then flooding and forcing out small animals which they shared with the marauding gulls.

Shorebirds were below par but 100 Oystercatcher, 6 Black-tailed Godwit (surprising, considering they should have numbered thousands rather than a half-dozen). 1000 Dunlin, a calling Greenshank and smaller numbers of Redshank barely stretched the imagination.

With all these birds about it was inevitable they would attract some raptors, an adult and juvenile Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and a pale phase Common Buzzard helped themselves to the bounty.

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After work trip to the marsh and a mixture of species to keep the interest level up. The numbers of duck on No.6 tank are restricted by the amount of water within the basin so this was reflected by the smaller flock size. 59 Tufted Duck, 1 drake Pochard, 176 Common Teal and 7 Common Shelduck represented the waterfowl. 12 Ruff, 2 Golden Plover and 134 Lapwing made a typical low water (tide wise) count.

The Peregrine was again perched up high on the blue-topped chimney, a single Kestrel hovering over No.5 tank and 4 Common Buzzard were following the earth works on No.3 tank.

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The tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo produced a generally windy and wild day but at dusk the rain hit with a vengeance and travelling across the Weaver viaduct at 19.00hrs saw the rain coming in horizontal sheets…a bit scary (WSM).

Images and video taken at dusk from Marsh Farm.

A force 10, but too windy and then wet, and then too dark to see anything blown into the Mersey estuary at Marsh Farm. A look on No.6 tank which was catering for a cowering bunch of 1500 gulls coming into their pre-roost, with mainly Black-headed, but 200 Lesser-backed and a few Common maybe 100 birds.